Chapter Four: You Gotta Fire Up

Author's Note: I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this story.

"Those aren't Draconids, are they?" Tally's voice shook slightly as they watched the strangers approach the waterfall.

Carla shook her head. She looked at her phone again and felt her heart sink - there were no bars.

"Either of you got a signal?"

Bruno checked his phone too. "I haven't. Think those guys are Scythe?"

"I don't know." The air beside Carla turned slightly chillier; Zoe was watching the strangers as well.

"What are they doing here?" Tally whispered. "What do they want?"

As if he'd heard her, one of the strangers said: "We can't afford to get the wrong pool. You know the drill: go in, snatch 'em, get out."

Carla clenched her fists.

"And if the Draconids show up?" the tallest of the group asked.

"They won't if we do it right." The speaker tossed a capsule towards the pool and a Sealeo emerged. He slid into the water and got onto the Sealeo's back. His companions released their Water-types - Tentacruel, Poliwrath and Cloyster - and they travelled towards the waterfall.

Before the intruders could start going up the waterfall on their pokémon, Carla turned to her friends and said: "If they're here for the Dratini, they'll have Ice-types, right?"

"Probably, yeah," Bruno said. "Why?"

"We've got two Fire-types. If we can make enough noise, it might attract the Draconids."

"But they won't just have Ice-types," Tally whispered.

Carla scrambled over to her bag and quickly found her black scarf. "And we've got more than Fire-types. We've also got a big advantage."

"What's that?"

"We can get to the pool faster than they can. They used Water-types, not a teleporter. Tally, can you remember exactly what the pool looks like?"

Tally frowned. "I think so." Her eyes widened. "You want Flora to get us there?"

"Do you think she can do it?"

"I...yeah, I think so. Hold on, I'll just find the balaclavas for me and Bruno. Do we take our stuff?"

Carla shook her head. "When we're done, we'll get back to the alcove, grab our things and get out of Meteor Falls. You both can remember the alcove too, right?"

"Pretty sure." Tally pulled out the balaclavas and tossed one to Bruno. "Are they gone?"

Bruno peered out of the cave. "Yeah, they're gone."

Tally called out Flora; kneeling in front of the Ralts, she said seriously: "Flora, I'm going to imagine a pool in Meteor Falls, and we need you to to teleport all of us there. Can you do that?"

Flora hesitated. Bruno and Carla held their breath.

Finally, the Ralts nodded. Zoe put a hand on her trainer's shoulder; it was pleasantly cold rather than biting.

Next moment, all three trainers were kneeling beside the pool.

"How long did it take us to reach this place the first time?" Bruno asked, jamming the balaclava onto his head.

"Under an hour, I think. We've got plenty of time. Let's get everyone we need out."

Zoe was already out, so Carla chose Auna and Jade. She waited as Bruno and Tally chose their pokémon: Frank, Hazel, AJ, Treble and Glossie.

"Hey, Carly?" Tally said. "If they are after the Dratini, how are they going to get them to come to the surface?"

That was a good question. "They've got Water-types. They just have to drive them up." Carla glanced down at her Vaporeon. "Auna, go down into that pool and warn the Dratini. They're in danger."

Auna dived beneath the surface.

"Do you really think we're going to be able to take those guys?" Bruno asked worriedly. "I mean, they're bound to have more experience than us. And what if the Draconids don't turn up?"

"We'll just have to make sure they do." Carla took out another capsule and called out Rakel. "I need you to get help. This is really important, Rakel. Find the Draconids and let them know something's wrong."

The Misdreavus nodded, her necklace glowing faintly, then she drifted away into the depths of the Falls.

Minutes later, Carla was certain she could hear footsteps. They were quiet and cautious, so clearly whoever was coming were not the Draconids.

AJ growled, and Bruno put a hand on his head to quieten him.

Carla closed her eyes. Latias, all we have is the element of surprise. Please let that be enough.

The four strangers came around the edge of a rock and approached the pool.

"Sure that's the one?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Jade's tail lashed wildly. She was waiting for a command to attack, but when would be the right time? Before the goons got their pokémon out or after?

You are strong. You have power. Own it.

Yes.

Carla stepped out from behind her rock. "Oh, I don't think so."

All three men froze in surprise, but it didn't last long.

"You've got to be joking," the tallest one said with a laugh. "You think you can stand up to us with your little lizard?"

Jade spat a ball of fire at his feet, and he jumped back with a yelp.

"Don't move," Carla said. "Any of you, or you'll regret it. Think I came here by myself?"

Frank and AJ came prowling towards the trio, their teeth bared in a snarl. Bruno was right behind them, his steps slow and confident. Treble and Glossie appeared next, and the sight of them made the tallest man chuckle.

"Terrifying," he said. "That's the best you got? There are four of us and three of you."

"You even move," Carla replied, "we'll attack."

One of the men frowned. "Wait. It was you at the hotel, wasn't it? You're that..."

Auna sprang out of the water - right next to one of the goons. He made a grab for her; Zoe appeared out of nowhere and hurled three ice shards at him. The two others reached for their belts, and Frank and AJ moved forward.

Roars split the air. Everyone froze in horror as massive winged figures swooped overhead, flames glowing in their mouths.

"Druddigon!" one of the men roared. He released his Cloyster and it released a beam of ice into the air. Zoe quickly sent another Ice Shard attack at the nearest Druddigon, hitting it in the side. The goons called out their pokémon - Sealeo, Poliwrath and Vanilluxe.

"Auna, use Aurora Beam!" Carla yelled. Moments later, a stream of multicoloured light blasted another Druddigon in the chest, sending it tumbling from the air. Auna quickly leaped to the side to avoid a Dragon Rge attack. Carla threw her arm up to shield her face from the heat.

"Don't go for the heads!" Bruno yelled. "Go for the bodies!"

Suddenly, something slammed into the Cloyster with a sickening crack. One of the Dragon-types stood on top of it, fangs gleaming. The Cloyster had been driven partially into the rock floor, and there were cracks in the protective outer shell.

Carla's stomach turned, but she held her ground. At her feet, Jade let out a long, low hiss.

Two more Dragon Rages shot dangerously close to Treble and the Sealeo.

"Let's get out of here!" the man with the Cloyster shouted, withdrawing his pokémon. "Forget the Dratini - just go!"

Where was Rakel? Carla wanted to look around for the Misdreavus but taking her eyes off the Druddigon facing her would have been suicide.

Suddenly a familiar shape materialised next to Zoe, blasting the nearest Druddigon with a Psybeam. Rakel and Zoe were back to back, sending attacks at any wild attacker they could.

That was their cue. Ignoring the fleeing men, Carla shouted: "Time to go!"

"Flora, get us back to the alcove!" cried Tally.

In the time it took to blink, the group was back in front of the little alcove. Carla and Bruno scrambled inside and grabbed all three bags.

"Is everyone here?" Carla asked as soon as they were out of the alcove.

"Yeah, I think so. It doesn't look like anyone's..." Tally's voice trailed off and her eyes widened in horror. "Uh...guys?"

One of the Druddigon stood next to the group. There was a mark on its chest, and although it shook slightly on its feet, it lowered its body into a crouch and growled, preparing to spring.

"Use Confusion, Hazel!" Bruno yelled.

Hazel's eyes glowed. The Druddigon's body was lit up by a light blue glow; roaring in rage, it tried to shake itself free.

"Now use Thunder Fang, Frank!"

The Luxray pounced, sending the Dragon-type to the ground and sinking his fangs into its body.

Bruno took out a pokéball. He threw it right at the downed Druddigon; it disappeared in a flash of red light, leaving a sealed capsule that rocked violently.

"What are you doing?" Tally asked.

"Hey, I wanted a Dragon-type, remember?"

"Come on," Carla said, "let's go before the Draconids show up."

They withdrew their teams and fled. Eventually, they found the nearest exit and were out under the stars. Carla took her scarf off and stuffed it into her bag.

The three trainers were in a wide open space, with Meteor Falls behind them.

"Where do we go?" Tally's voice was shaking. "What do we do?"

"I don't know." Carla knew it was dangerous to travel at night, especially when it was hard to tell where they were. "Tally, can Flora get us to a Centre?"

"I guess, but we have to get the balaclavas off first."

Carla didn't care which Centre it was. All that mattered was that they get out of the area and got some rest.

Carla lay on the bed in her pyjamas, staring at the curtains. She wanted to open the window and let some air in, but any breeze coming in would have smelled of ash.

Her team was clustered around her. Nixie, Rakel, Jade and Layla were nestled into her sides and Auna sprawled out lazily on top of Carla's legs. Zoe leaned her head on her folded arms, eyes half-closed and her hollow body rested on the floor.

It was so good to relax in silence. Tally was keeping an eye on the laundry, and Bruno was helping his new team member adjust to her new life and her place in the team. Carla and her team had the room to themselves; she intended to make the most of it.

Her phone rang. It wasn't quite fully charged yet, but Carla picked it up off the bedside table and answered it anyway.

"Hello?"

"Why were you asking about Orestes Thorn?"

Carla sat upright. "Dave? How are you? How's your..."

"Serious question, Carla. Why?"

Confused, Carla replied: "I ran into him outside Verdanturf and then I saw him on a Wanted poster in Sinnoh. I just thought your dad might know who he was."

"He's trouble. I mean it, he's..." There was a brief pause, as if Dave was looking around to check nobody was listening. "My parents had Barnabas Reed over for dinner tonight; they don't know I heard them talking about this. You know bounty hunting is illegal in Sinnoh? Thorn is the reason why. Well, one of the reasons."

"What's he done?"

Dave paused again. "Once a trainer has a license and a starter and is out on the road, parents can't force them to come home. That's the law, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, if they know the right people and have the right money, they can."

Carla propped herself up further on the pillow, stroking an anxious Layla with her free hand. "Are you saying what I think you are?"

"Yes."

Nausea churned in Carla's stomach. "How does Barnabas Reed know about this?"

"He thinks there are Snatchers - that's what they're known as - operating in Hoenn, but he can't prove it. There's no way that's only happening in Sinnoh." Another quick pause. "I have to go. I think someone's coming."

He hung up just as Tally came into the room, her arms full of clothes. Flora was perched on her shoulder.

"Here they are! It is going to feel so good to wear something clean instead of...Carly? What's wrong?"

Carla lowered the phone slowly. She wasn't sure how to answer.

This chapter's soundtrack is from I'm So Sorry by Imagine Dragons.

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